The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era heading into next season with a new head coach, a new general manager, and a new starting quarterback. Expectations are not super high for this team with an unproven starting quarterback, a rookie head coach, and a mostly rebuilding roster. However, I believe this team has what it takes to surprise many and could be a potential playoff team. New starting quarterback Malik Willis has star if not superstar potential written all over him, new head coach Jeff Hafley could be the next defensive mastermind head coach in the Mike MacDonald mold, and the roster has enough talent in key spots, with Miami still having time and opportunity to bolster the weak points of the roster. Here I will go into detail examining Miami on the offensive side of things heading into this year’s draft and after the initial onset of the free agency period.
Malik Willis looked amazing in limited time on the field with the Green Bay Packers. Take out his first two seasons in the NFL where he struggled as a rookie with the Titans and barely took any snaps in year 2 with Tennessee and his stat line reads as the following. The next two seasons in almost 90 pass attempts with the Packers, Willis posted a passer rating of over 130, with the single season all time record being at 122. In that same time frame, Willis ran for over 250 yards on a remarkable 6.0+ yards an attempt which ranked near the top of the NFL.
In his limited time on the field, outside of Willis’ rookie season, Willis’ passing numbers have been better than Lamar Jackson’s and his running numbers have been essentially on par with that of Jackson’s. Although comparing Willis in very limited action to the two-time MVP Jackson may be a bit premature, it is certainly not farfetched. Willis was a similar type of prospect entering the league as Jackson was, where both were thought of as potential high first round picks as dual threat QBs but both slid in the draft due to throwing concerns but both were still drafted relatively high. Willis, like Jackson, both mightily struggled throwing the ball entering the NFL, but both eventually were able to put up elite passing numbers which paralleled that of any player ever. Willis’ measurables as a starting quarterback are essentially neck and neck with Lamar Jackson as well. Willis stands at 6 feet 1 inch while Jackson stands at 6 feet 2 inches, Willis weighs 225 pounds while Jackson weighs 205 pounds, Willis runs a 4.37 40-yard dash while Jackson runs a 4.33 40-yard dash, Willis has a 38.5 vertical jump compared to Jackson’s 36.5-inch vertical jump. As stated previously, Willis’ passing numbers in very limited action have actually been better than that of Lamar Jackson’s and his running numbers have been right on par as well.
Additionally, it is not as if Willis has elite offensive personnel and coaching to work with during his time in Green Bay. Green Bay’s offensive personnel surrounding Willis was good but nothing special, and in totality it was likely just slightly above average, with a below average wide receiver room. Offensive minded head coach Matt Lafleur is sharp as an offensive mind but does not behoove me as an elite offensive mind in the McVay/Shanahan/Reid mold. Many point to Willis’ lack of game reps as a critique of him which is fair, but it does not take much time to decipher how good a player is. If a player is great for 3-4 straight games to start his career, that is often all it takes to decipher if he can play or not, especially if that player has elite physical capabilities like Willis.
On the offensive side of things, Miami has many concerns, but Willis will have good support around him this upcoming season. Miami has a solid if not more than that offensive coordinator in Bobby Slowik calling the shots on offense. Slowik was the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans during C.J Stroud’s rookie season where Stroud had one of the greatest rookie quarterback seasons in league history. Slowik during that 2023 season as a rookie offensive coordinator was able to get Stroud to produce at an elite level. This was despite Slowik being a rookie in the role, Stroud being a rookie, the Texans having a rookie defensive minded head coach, and Houston having below average offensive personnel as well. Stroud has since regressed since Slowik has left him as the offensive coordinator and I think Miami has a fine proven offensive coordinator in line as of now. Slowik was also an offensive assistant for years under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and learned from the best. Slowik has experience in getting elite play out of a first year starting quarterback, with a rookie defensive minded head coach, and questionable offensive personnel. That exact situation is the same situation that Slowik will be in with the Dolphins as this season approaches with him as the offensive coordinator.
From a personnel standpoint on offense surrounding Willis, the Dolphins have some talent but still far too many concerns. Miami’s offensive line produced at amongst the worst levels in the NFL this past season. Heading into next season there is optimism that the unit can see a great uptick in production and at least produce at a solid level.
At left tackle, 2024 second round pick Patrick Paul has seen his ups and downs in the league so far but has still shown to be capable. Paul mightily struggled as a rookie in 2024 in limited action but turned in a solid campaign this past season in 2025. Paul ranked in the top 20% among qualified tackles in terms of pass blocking efficiency this past season but still ranked below average (67/95) in terms of run blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus. However, Paul as a young player was still learning on the job as he only played in about 30% of available snaps as a rookie. So much of Paul’s 2nd season in the league could be interpreted as him learning as a rookie. Paul has proven to be a legitimate starting tackle with above average pass blocking capabilities but struggling however still improving as a run blocker. Paul, as such a high draft pick who has shown a ton of promise and improvement thus far in the NFL, is a breakout candidate player next year in the NFL. If Paul can continue to improve, he could be an above average if not more than that starting left tackle for Miami, where he is currently listed on the depth chart.
Currently slated to start at left guard is 2025 second round pick rookie Jonah Savaiinaea. Savaiinaea had an abysmal rookie season where he ranked last in terms of an overall offense grade among qualified guards according to Pro Football Focus. However, although it was more drastic in his case, rookie struggles are understandable. As such a high draft pick, Savaiinaea will be on the clock to greatly improve heading into year 2. If he can have a strong year and live up to his potential, the Dolphins could have a solid if not more than that starting left guard on their roster. However, as of now the Dolphins starting left guard spot is a big concern.
The bright spot on the Miami offensive front is starting center Aaron Brewer, who is a borderline elite player at the position. In almost 1000 snaps during the 2025 season, Brewer graded 2nd in terms of an overall offense grade among qualified centers according to Pro Football Focus. This was after ranking in or around the top ten in that same department for the two seasons prior as well. Brewer is currently slated to start at center again for Miami this upcoming season and will be a bedrock of stability for Miami on the offensive line as the team has concerns everywhere else outside of Brewer in the unit.
At right guard the Dolphins have tremendous concerns as of now just as with the other current starting guard spot. Miami doesn’t have a starting caliber player in line to start at right guard, nor even a young player with potential. Currently listed as the starter on the depth chart is newly acquired player Jamaree Salyer who is better suited as a backup. Salyer has graded below average according to Pro Football Focus in three of four seasons in the NFL, and below average in both seasons as a guard. However, the Dolphins have a strong player in Daniel Brunskill who is currently listed as a reserve who I could certainly see assuming the starting right guard spot. Brunskill has consistently graded in the above average range as a guard in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus and could provide Miami with a strong option at one of the starting guard spots.
Similar potential but concerns exist for the Dolphins at the starting right tackle spot as they did with the starting left tackle spot. Starting left tackle Patrick Paul was a high draft pick who has shown improvement in his time in the NFL who has proven to be a strong pass protector but a below average run blocker. Likewise, starting right tackle Austin Jackson was also a former high draft pick as a first rounder who has consistently improved since entering the NFL, who has shown himself to be a strong if not a very strong pass protector, but someone who struggles with run blocking. Jackson, the past three seasons has graded above average in terms of pass blocking efficiency all three times according to Pro Football Focus, including ranking near the top of the NFL once at (4/89) in almost 1000 snaps. However, Jackson has graded below average in terms of run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus in 5 of his 6 seasons in the league. Jackson is a capable starter, but Miami still has question marks at their starting right tackle spot.
From a reserve standpoint on the offensive front, Miami has many concerns as well. The only high-level player Miami has on their reserve offensive line as of now is veteran Daniel Brunskill. However, as stated previously, Brunskill, because of Miami’s need on the offensive front may ultimately end up assuming a starting role. Outside of Brunskill Miami does not have much on their reserve offensive line and will need to stay healthier up front. Backup tackle Kendall Lamm could be solid but is far too inconsistent, with similar logic applying to former first rounder Germain Ifedi as well on Miami’s reserve offensive front. The Dolphins will need to stay healthier on their offensive front this upcoming season and/or they will need some young reserve players to step up if need be. Young players such as 2023 4th round pick tackle Carter Warren and 2023 4th round pick tackle Braeden Daniels. They will also need veterans who have shown promise but have been too inconsistent to remain NFL starters such as Lamm, Ifedi, Yodny Cajuste, Kion Smith, and Jamaree Salyer to play well if/when they are called upon.
Miami had one of the league’s worst offensive lines this past season, but I think the Dolphins could field a solid if not better than that unit next season. If former 2nd round pick Patrick Paul can continue to improve heading into year 3 in the NFL, Miami could have a strong if not a very strong starting left tackle. If 2025 second round rookie Jonah Savaiinaea can live up to his potential starting in year 2 after an abysmal rookie season, Miami could be set at their starting left guard spot as well. Starting center Aaron Brewer is a borderline elite to an elite starting NFL center and will be the bedrock of stability on a Miami offensive front marred by question marks if he can stay healthy. The starting right guard spot is a concern but both veterans Daniel Brunskill and/or Jamaree Salyer can be solid if not more than that in the position. Starting right tackle Austin Jackson as a former first round pick is a capable starter with elite pass protection capabilities but having his struggles as a run blocker. Miami lacks depth on the offensive line however, although they have some viable backups. The Dolphins will likely need to stay healthier up front and/or add some more capable backups to their offensive front before the season starts.
From a skill position player standpoint, the Dolphins have strengths that rank near the top of the NFL but weaknesses that rank near the bottom of the league. Miami’s starting running back in De’Von Achane is amongst the premier players at his position in the NFL. Achane has graded as the top overall running back in the NFL in two of his three seasons in the league according to Pro Football Focus. However, Miami lacks depth at the running back position behind Achane as they have no noteworthy players on the depth chart behind Achane as of now. However, 2024 4th rounder Jaylen Wright has looked solid in the league so far with veteran Alexander Mattison having shown a very high ceiling in the NFL for a brief period early in his career.
At the tight end spot, Darren Waller, although he is aging and has struggled with injuries, will be a strong option for the Dolphins next season. Waller has missed extended action for the past five seasons in a row now and will play next season at the age of 34. However, Waller in 9 games last season was graded as the number two overall tight end in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Walller in six straight seasons, minus one year he was retired, has graded amongst the best overall tight ends in the NFL on a perennial basis. Because of Waller’s age and injury proneness, Miami needs strong reserve players at the position, and they have that primarily in the form of recently resigned veteran Greg Dulcich. Dulcich as a former third round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft graded in the top ten among qualified tight ends this past season in the ten games, he appeared in according to Pro Football Focus. Dulcich has shown promise in very limited action prior to this past season as well. Because of his high draft selection and very strong production, albeit in limited action, Dulcich is currently among the premier #2 tight ends in the sport and could presume the Dolphins #1 tight end spot eventually this upcoming season. The Dolphins also have a capable third tight end in Cole Turner, who graded above average among qualified tight ends in 12 games during the 2025 season.
Wide receiver is likely the biggest concern for the Dolphins as the draft approaches as Miami likely has the worst wide receiver unit in the NFL as of now. Miami’s lack of talent at the wide out spot heading into the Jon Eric-Sullivan/Jeff Hafley era is a complete diversion of what the franchise was under the previous regime. The Dolphins almost overemphasized the wide receiver position under former general manager Chris Grier and former head coach Mike McDaniel, building the offense around big names in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The new regime has since moved off both of those players and Miami’s wide receiver room is arguably the weakest in the league as of now. With recently acquired veteran Tutu Atwell being Miami’s top player at the position, who would be the #3 wide receiver on half of the league’s teams. Miami does not have a starting caliber wide receiver as of now on their roster and wide receiver will be likely the team’s biggest pressing point during the remainder of the offseason and as the NFL draft approaches. Outside of Atwell Miami lacks even high-level backup caliber players on their wide receiver depth chart as of now as well. Miami must address the wide receiver unit as the season approaches as they do not want to hinder new starting QB Malik Willis too much.
Ultimately heading into next season, the Dolphins could be a very strong offensive team but have many question marks so far. Malik Willis could be the next Lamar Jackson at the QB spot but has only had a handful of starts in the NFL thus far. The offensive line could be very good but is very reliant upon the development of young players. Miami’s current combination of tight ends and running backs is amongst the best in the NFL although Waller is getting older and has an injury history, and Miami isn’t overly deep behind Achane at running back either. If Miami can bolster their wide receiver room and have it be at least a respectable NFL caliber unit, which it isn’t as of now, if Miami QB Malik Willis is the real deal, if the Dolphins see strong development from young players especially on the offensive front, and if Miami can stay reasonably healthy, the Dolphins’ offense could rank up there with anyone in the AFC next season.
